February goes out with a lot of heart

A month full of care, compassion, important events and expansion of services offered

February is a month dedicated to the heart. And we have seen a lot of that at Keck Medicine of USC. We witnessed care and compassion in action as our hospitals and clinics took care of those displaced by the fires. And despite many of our staff losing their own homes or otherwise disrupted by the fires and mudslides, our care providers continued to provide exceptional care for our patients. We will continue to be there for each other and our patients during the slow return to “normal.”

Another way we showed heart was through the Institute for Arts in Medicine, which promotes healing through the arts. For Valentine’s Day, talented artists of the Institute created one-of-a-kind Valentine grams for patients and staff at Keck Medical Center of USC as a way to let our patients and care providers know how special they are. The notes included inspiring messages such as, “I could not do this job without you,” or “Thank you for being your kind self.” 

Additionally, this year, for the first time, the medical center went red to support American Heart Month, a month-long campaign to encourage the public to focus on their cardiovascular health. In honor of National Wear Red Day, on Feb. 7 our buildings lit up red for a week. We joined many other Southern California landmarks, such as the SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, the Santa Monica Pier Ferris wheel, and the Forever Marilyn sculpture in Palm Springs to raise awareness of cardiovascular disease among women.

February was an impactful month in other ways as well. We recognized Black History Month with many events, including a book drive to benefit local schools affected by the fires  and a campus block party featuring Black-owned businesses and community organizations.

The month has also been a time of expansion for the health system. We are set to open our new state-of-the-art Radiation Oncology and Imaging Center in Newport Beach in the very near future. This location will offer an exceptional team of radiation oncologists, physicians  and direct caregivers complemented by the latest advancements in radiation therapy.

We are also in the home stretch of finishing our 100,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art medical office building located at 590 S. Fair Oaks Ave. in Pasadena that will open in the fall of 2025. It will offer a wide range of specialized services, including an outpatient surgery center and an outpatient imaging center, in one convenient location.

I am grateful for the continued heartfelt efforts of our staff.

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